By Elizabeth Reimer, a junior peace, justice & conflict studies and Bible & religion major from Naperville, Illinois
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (NRSV)
I am a chronic over-committer. I have so much that I want to do! Plus, it seems as though every little thing needs fixing, and I certainly can’t trust others to get it done right. That mindset has gotten me good grades on a lot of group projects. It’s also how I ended up burning out before the semester was over and coasting to the finish on fumes.
In this Bible story, David has a grand vision. He wants to build God a home, a luxurious temple. And God, very politely, says no. God asks David, “Are you the one to build me a house to live in?” Apparently, David isn’t. The (mostly) perfect King David, the golden boy of the Hebrew Bible, is not meant for this task.
As I look at everything I want to do, everything I want to fix, I am forced to admit that I can’t do it all. There are some tasks that I’m not meant for. David never built his temple; that work was passed to Solomon, and from it came one of the wonders of the ancient world.
We are part of a community, and that means relying on others to share the burden. This Advent season, as we travel on the road, remember: you’re not on this road alone.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (NRSV)
Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.